Published: Thursday, 11th June, 2009 11:50am

Barber

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DALGETY BAY swimmer Eloise Barber has been selected for British swimming"s world class development programme.

So focused was Barber on her own performance in March"s British Gas Championships that when she swam a personal best of 2:19.45 in the 200 metres individual medley (IM), she had no idea it would lead to other things.

'I hadn"t realised I had swum the qualifying time so it was a really good surprise when I got the letter from the world class development programme,' said the 16-year-old, who competed for Great Britain at last summer"s European Junior Championships.

'I will get funding support to help towards the costs of competitions and training. I"ve also been selected for the British Swimming Intensive Training Centre (ITC) at Stirling and I"m starting there fully in August. It will be a big move for me.'

With the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next October a major target for Barber"s 2010 season, the additional support comes at a good time.

'Eloise has to be focusing on next year"s Commonwealth Games and her long term view has to be 2012,' said Scottish swimming"s performance director, Ally Whike.

'Through the world class development programme she will get direct financial support which will enhance what she is already getting through Scottish Swimming and the Tayside and Fife Institute. And she will be circulating with other swimmers at the same level.

'Being accepted to the ITC is a good move for her. The environment is pretty tough so she will benefit which will keep her going up the ladder.'

As part of that process Barber will leave John Szaranek, head coach at Carnegie Swimming Club, and join ITC coach, Rob Greenwood, who recently began coaching Dalgety Bay"s Lucy Ellis.In the meantime she will enter the Scottish Gas Championships at the end of June. 'Hopefully I"ll set another few PBs there, then, after that, I"ll keep working at getting closer to Commonwealth Games qualifying times,' she said.

'The 200m IM is my best event and the one I have the best chance to get into the Games team with. The qualifying time is 2:16.01. It"s three or four seconds faster than I"ve swum but I"ve got a year, so hopefully I can do it.'